CAREER: Investigating how Conical Intersection Topography Drives Photochemistry using High-Sensitivity Femtosecond Spectroscopy

在这个由化学系化学结构、动力学和机理(CSDM-A)计划资助的项目中，纽约大学的Daniel Turner教授和他的研究小组进行了实验研究，旨在了解分子中某些原子核和电子的协调运动如何决定光化学反应的结果。这项研究提高了对几个光驱动过程的基本理解，包括太阳能转换的机制。这些活动加强了中学教育，使退休科学家能够进行指导，向公众宣传科学，培养有能力在研究、工业和教育中应用技术和量化技能的科学家。该项目的重点是锥形交点的探测和从飞秒光谱实验中提取地形信息。通过阐明锥形相交在凝聚相光化学中的作用，拟议的实验研究不仅解决了计算工作中假定的关于锥形相交地形的问题，而且还指导和激励了未来的理论工作。被测量的分子，恶嗪和光敏色素，分别作为研究锥形交叉点如何中介非辐射衰变和驱动光异构化反应的模型系统。更广泛的影响包括为科学事业培训年轻研究人员，通过与《赫芬顿邮报》的合作向公众传播科学，创建一个网站，收集退休科学家的专业知识，以填补研究趋势代际更替造成的空白，并通过与高中教师的合作，为贫困学校开发可行的科学实验室。

In this project funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms (CSDM-A) Program of the Division of Chemistry, Professor Daniel Turner of New York University and his research group conducts experimental studies aimed at understanding how certain coordinated motions of the nuclei and electrons in molecules determine the outcomes of photochemical reactions. The research improves the fundamental understanding of several light-driven processes, including mechanisms of solar energy conversion. The activities enhance secondary education, enable mentoring by retired scientists, promote science to the public, and produce scientists equipped to apply technical and quantitative skills in research, industry, and education. This project focuses on the detection of conical intersections and extraction of topographic information from femtosecond spectroscopy experiments. By clarifying the role of conical intersections in condensed-phase photochemistry, the proposed experimental studies not only resolve questions about conical intersection topography that have been postulated by computational work, but also guide and motivate future theoretical efforts. The molecules to be measured, oxazines and phytochromes, serve as model systems for studying how conical intersections mediate nonradiative decay and drive photo-isomerization reactions, respectively. The broader impacts include training young researchers for scientific careers, disseminating science to the general public through a partnership with The Huffington Post, creating a website that captures the expertise of retired scientists to fill in the gaps created by generational turnover of research trends, and, through a partnership with high school teachers, developing feasible science labs for underprivileged schools.